Seat for public buildings



(Model) G. H. THOMPSON. SEAT FOR PUBLIC BUILDINGS. No. 295.461, Patented Mar. 18, 1884.

"NITED STATES.

PATENT FFI SEAT FOR PUBLIC BUILDINGS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 295,461, dated March 18, 1884, Applicationfiled August 21, 1882. (Modeld f aZZ whdm it may concern.-

Be it known that I, Gno. H. THOMPSON, of Plattsmouth, in the county of Cass, and in the State of Nebraska, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Seats for Public Buildings; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making a part of this specification, in which Figure l is a perspective view of my platform as combined with graded removable seats, and Fig. 2 is a like view of the lower side of said platform.

' Letters of like name and kind refer to like parts in each of the figures.

The design of my invention is to furnish a convenient and efficient temporary flooring for aisles or passages between rows of graded removable seats; and to this end it consists of the construction, arrangement, and combination of parts, as hereinafter described, and

more specifically pointed out in the claim.

My invention is designed for use, and is preferably used, with a folding chair that forms the subject of another application for patent,

and which for convenience of illustration will be described.

In the annexed drawings, A and A represent the sides of my chair, which may have any desired form, and are united by means of rails 13, that extend between said parts at suitable points, at the back and lower portions, and by a rod, 0, that extends between the front central portions, and upon which is pivoted a seat, D, that is adapted to occupy ahorizontal position when desired for use, and to be turned upward to the position shown in Figs. 2 and 3 when not in use. The chairs intended for the front row have the ordinary height, while those for use in each row in the rear have such increase in height as to enable their users to obtain a good view of the stage, such relative heights being governed by the size of the hall.' Iivoted upon a rung, B, between the. lower front portions of the chairsides A of each chair, in rear of the front row, is one end of a board, E, which has a width equal to the space between said parts, and a length sufficient to enable its outer end to pass between the sides of the next chair in front and to rest upon a rung or rod, 13, that is provided at such point. The board or footplatformE is placed at a distance below the seat D corresponding to the position of the floor with relation to the seats of the front row of chairs, and performs the same office as said floor, furnishing a support for the person while passing to or from the seat, and for the feet while occupying the latter.

The chairs thus constructed are preferably combined to form rows of two or more in length, and when used are placed in position so that the platform of each will engage with and rest upon the supporting-rung of the chair immediately in front, an aisle or passage being left between each section in the usual manner.

Each aisle is provided with a flooring,which is constructed in the following manner, viz: Extending between the chairs of each two contiguous corresponding rows is a platform, F, which fills the space laterally, and from front to rear has such length as to enable it to extend from the front side of the chairs of two corresponding rows to or near the center of the chairs of the rows next in rear. Each platform F is provided at each side with two metal lugs, f, that project downward and are each forked or slotted, as shown. Each lug is adapted to engage with and pass over a projecting bolt, (preferably the end of one of the rungs B or B,) where it is held in place by gravity or by means of a nut, Z), that may be turned inward upon said bolt and caused to clamp said lug firmly against the side of the chair. As the rungs B and B of two contiguous rows of chairs which are engaged by the same platforms E have equal height above the floor, it will be seen that each platform F, engaging with and supported by the projecting ends of said rungs, will have the same plane as said platforms E, and in combination therewith will form a step of the raised floor of the hall. The lowest of the platforms F has a riser, f, which rests upon the floor of the hall, while each succeeding platform overlaps that immediately below, and is in like manner provided with a riser, f, which. extends downward to the upper face of said lower platform, the whole forming a series of steps which are firm, and for all practical purposes are as efficient as though constituting a permanent floor.

In addition to the office named, the aisleplatforms unite the rows of chairs of each section, and combine the sections so as to render end chairs of the rows, substantially as shown the seats more steady than would otherwise and described. be practicable. In testimony that I claim the foregoing I Having thus-fully set forth the nature and have hereunto set my hand this 14th day of 5 merits of my inventiomwhat I claim as new is 1 August, 1882.

In combination with rows of {removable I chairs graded from the main floor and grouped GEORGE THOMPSON in sections, with aisles or passages between Vitnesses: the sections, a stepped sectional aisle-platform J. E. MoRRIsoN, 10 between the sections, and supported by the ALLEN BEESAN. 

